Picking Topics

The Topics tab

After first-time setup, Dialog Lab opens on the Topics tab. Open it anytime later to browse issues available for conversation. Each topic represents a real-world question people disagree about.

Dialog Lab explains: “Add a thumbs up or down… Any topics that you have marked could be chosen to discuss.”

How to mark a stance

You will only be matched on topics where you have marked a stance. If you leave a topic unmarked, it will not be used for matchmaking.

• Thumbs up — you generally agree with or support the topic’s viewpoint.
• Thumbs down — you generally disagree with or oppose it.
• Tap again — clears your stance if you change your mind.

You can vote from the Topics list or from the Topic Detail Page. If you have not marked any topics, you will be prompted to select some before you can get matched.

Topic Detail Page

Tap a topic to open its detail screen. Depending on the topic, you may see:

• A short AI Overview of the issue.
• News links and related reading.
• A hero image when one is provided.
• Stance buttons (thumbs up / down) and a way to start matching on this topic.

Share a topic

From the Topic Detail Page, use the share control (toolbar or Share this Topic with a Friend) to send a link via the system share sheet. App shares use a Universal Link with the topic id (https://joindialoglab.com/topics/{id}). On the web, those links redirect to a human-readable URL like https://joindialoglab.com/topics/tariff-dividend.

• Recipients who already have Dialog Lab open the topic in the app.
• Recipients without the app land on the marketing site topic page (or the App Store).

Suggest a New Topic

On the Topics tab, tap Suggest a New Topic (or the lightbulb control) to propose an issue for the team to consider. Suggestions are reviewed by Dialog Lab staff — they are not published immediately. If a suggestion goes live, it may show who submitted it.

Active and expired topics

Topics rotate over time. In Profile → Viewpoints, you can review:

• Active Topics — currently available for matching.
• Expired Viewpoints — topics you previously marked that are no longer in rotation.

To add new active topics, return to the Topics tab and mark stances on issues you have not marked yet.

While you wait for a match

If you are already searching for a partner, you can add more topics without cancelling your search. Open the topics sheet from the session lobby and mark additional stances — this can widen your matching pool. Starting a search from a single topic may replace a broader multi-topic search; the app will confirm if that happens.

Review your viewpoints

Visit Profile → Viewpoints anytime to see every topic you have marked and update your stances. Keeping your viewpoints current helps Dialog Lab pair you on issues you actually care about.

What is next?

Once you have marked at least one topic, you are ready for Starting a Discussion.